Maps of Movies
Into the Wild (2007)
Where Into the Wild says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
The bus in the film was never the real bus: it stood in Cantwell, about 50 miles south of where the story happened.
View on the map
Scenes and places
Arriving at the bus
The film opens with a young man arriving in the Alaskan wilderness and heading for an abandoned bus. The story then moves back in time to explain how he got there.
Set in Healy and the Stampede Trail — The Alaskan town near the trail where Chris heads for the abandoned bus. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Healy is a small Alaskan town near the edge of the Denali area on the Parks Highway.
Filmed at Cantwell, Alaska (replica bus set) (Parks Highway, Cantwell, Alaska, United States) — The bus scenes were shot here, about 50 miles south of the real bus site. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: The set no longer exists; all traces were removed after filming.
Graduation day at Emory
Chris graduates from Emory, turns down his parents' offer of a new car, and tensions in the family begin to show. Soon after, he gives away his savings and cuts off contact.
Set in Emory University — Chris graduates and refuses his parents' offer of a new car. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Emory University is in Atlanta, Georgia.
Filmed at Reed College front lawn, Portland, Oregon (Reed College, Portland, Oregon, United States) — Graduation scenes were shot here in late 2006. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Filmed at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia (Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States) — Some footage came from the real Emory graduation on May 15, 2006. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Filmed at Rice University, Houston, Texas (Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States) — Per Emory's own newsletter, the scenes with the actors were shot here, on a replica of Emory's podium. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The flood at Lake Mead
Chris's car is lost in a flash flood in the desert, and he leaves it behind and continues on foot.
Set in Lake Mead — A desert flash flood takes Chris's car. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Lake Mead was created by the construction of Hoover Dam.
Riding with Rainey and Jan
Chris travels with Rainey and Jan, a couple living a drifter lifestyle. Rainey gives him advice about money and society, and Jan shares her own history.
Set in Northern California — Chris travels with a drifter couple.
Harvest work in South Dakota
Chris takes a harvest job on a farm run by Wayne Westerberg, and bonds with his rough, hard-drinking employer. He leaves when federal agents come to investigate the crew.
Set in Carthage, South Dakota — Chris takes a harvest job on Wayne Westerberg's farm. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Carthage is a small town in Miner County, South Dakota.
Filmed at Carthage, South Dakota (Miner County, Carthage, South Dakota, United States) — Listed as a filming location for the harvest scenes. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Kayaking the Colorado River
Chris kayaks down the Colorado River without a permit, learning he faces a long wait for a legal trip. He meets two fellow paddlers near Hoover Dam and slips away when river rangers approach.
Set in Colorado River near Hoover Dam — Chris kayaks down the river and meets two fellow paddlers. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Hoover Dam sits on the Arizona-Nevada border.
Filmed at Lees Ferry, Arizona (Lees Ferry, Coconino County, Arizona, United States) — Far Out's text places the kayak launch here, although its entry is titled Hoover Dam. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The cave in Mexico
Chris crosses into Mexico and takes shelter in a cave by the sea, then loses his kayak in a sandstorm. He walks back north and is stopped at the border.
Set in Golfo de Santa Clara, Sonora — Chris shelters in a cave by the sea. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Golfo de Santa Clara is a fishing town in Sonora on the Gulf of California.
Filmed at Golfo de Santa Clara, Sonora (Gulf of California, Golfo de Santa Clara, Sonora, Mexico) — Far Out lists this fishing town as the location of the cave stay (single source). Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Freight train in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles Chris gets help with ID and a bus voucher at a shelter, then rides a freight train and is confronted by a railroad guard.
Set in Los Angeles — Chris gets help at a shelter, then rides a freight train. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Slab City
Chris reaches Slab City, a desert community of squatters, and meets Jan and Rainey again. He makes plans for Alaska.
Set in Slab City — Chris meets Jan and Rainey again among the squatters. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Slab City is an off-grid community in Imperial County, California.
Filmed at Slab City, California (Slab City, Imperial County, California, United States) — Listed as a filming location. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Salvation Mountain
Tracy, a long-time resident, introduces Chris to Salvation Mountain, a folk-art monument. Its creator Leonard Knight appears as himself.
Set in Salvation Mountain — Tracy introduces Chris to the painted hill. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Salvation Mountain is a painted adobe hill near Calipatria, California, built by Leonard Knight.
Ron Franz at Salton City
Chris meets Ron Franz, a widowed army veteran who works leather. The two climb a hill together, and Ron offers to drive Chris toward Alaska.
Set in Salton City — Chris meets a widowed veteran who works leather. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Salton City sits on the western shore of the Salton Sea.
Filmed at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California (Anza-Borrego Desert, California, United States) — Listed as the lookout filming spot. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Back at the bus
The flashback catches up with the opening, and the story returns to the bus in the Alaskan backcountry.
Set in Teklanika River and the bus — The story returns to the bus in the Alaskan backcountry. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The Teklanika River runs through the Denali area.
Filmed at Cantwell, Alaska (replica bus set) (Parks Highway, Cantwell, Alaska, United States) — The bus scenes were shot here, about 50 miles south of the real bus site. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: The set no longer exists; all traces were removed after filming.
Filmed at 49th State Brewing Company, Healy, Alaska (Denali area · Parks Highway, Healy, Alaska, United States) — Replica bus display Google Maps · Apple Maps
Characters
- Chris McCandless — A college graduate who gives up his money and heads alone for Alaska.
Questions answered on the map
- Where was the Into the Wild bus really filmed?